Vernissage

Among cognesenti, a Vernissage is a function that one attends on the pretence of viewing the newly-unveiled art while really being there to munch on the newly-placed munchies and bino blanco.

While small ticket vernissages are open to whoever dares boldly to go where they're not invited, necessary tickets for big ticket vernissages are auctioned off on eBay by invitees who have a life, using the proceeds to buy hockey tickets.

For those with more Christian tastes, the so-called experts at Wikipedia have an article about Vernissage.